Program builds bridges between cops and kids

Updated
November 05, 2012 13:47:00

A program run in Mt Druitt, one of Sydney's outer suburbs, is working to foster a healthy relationship between police and local youth. The 'life alternatives program' was run by the Mt Druitt police youth command, and provided mentoring and confidence building for 'at risk' kids. According to police, the results have been remarkable.

ELEANOR HALL: Now to that program in suburban Sydney that aims to foster a positive relationship between police and young people.

The program is being run by the Mt Druitt police youth command, and provides mentoring and confidence building for children considered to be "at risk".

According to police, the results have been remarkable.

Miriam Hall went to Sydney's Mt Druitt to find out.

MIRIAM HALL: It's early afternoon at a school in Mt Druitt, and a few teenagers are gathered around a pool table.

This isn't just any school; the Blacktown Youth College is for young people who can't, or won't, stay in mainstream education.

Their principal is Anne Ridgeway.

ANNE RIDGEWAY: Their family lives are often very challenging and difficult, so that's a really big one because they're around that all the time; drug and alcohol amongst their peers and also amongst the families. A healthy self esteem-that's a challenge for a lot of our kids, yeah.

MIRIAM HALL: Mt Druitt is in Sydney's far west, and has reputation of high crime and low employment.

The school counsellor is Tony Taranga. He says many of his students struggle, and there's a serious dislike of the police.

TONY TARANGA: I've said to some of those boys, "If somebody stole your car, what would you do?" "I'd ring the police." "Well, how could you have a problem with the police?" "Yeah, but, you know, they've gotta do their job." So there's finding the positives and getting them to identify them.

MIRIAM HALL: The Mt Druitt police force is also trying to remove that fear and hatred young people feel for the force.

Tristan is 15.

TRISTAN: And like, even when we just get pulled over to the side when we're walking to the shops or something is, "Oh, what are you effin' people doing? Oh, youse got any drugs?"

MIRIAM HALL: But Tristan's experience with the police hasn't been all bad. He's one of the star graduates of the local PCYC's "Life Alternative Program".

TRISTAN: They just took us out on outings and that to show us what we can do with our lives instead of doing stupid shit; getting in trouble. They try to help a lot of... just show us what drugs and alcohol do to you.

MIRIAM HALL: Tristan says he doesn't like the Police Force, but he thinks the police officers on the Life Alternatives Program are different.

TRISTAN: At first, you know, none of the boys-even me-like, none of us wanted to know 'em because it was coppers. But as we got to know 'em, they did things with us, and they didn't look down on us, they didn't talk down on us. So the boys, we all gained respect for them, you know, like, we all got respect for these three or four coppers.

MIRIAM HALL: Thanks to the program, Tristan has formed a close relationship with one of the officers.

TRISTAN: I can tell him everything that's going on in my life, and he won't say nothin' to no one, won't bring it up. It's just between me and him.

MIRIAM HALL: So you think he listens?

TRISTAN: Yeah. He gives me advice on what to do. If it wasn't for him, I'd probably be locked up right now.

MIRIAM HALL: The Life Alternatives Program was formed in response to a riot at the Mt. Druitt shopping mall last year. The police invited teenage boys to be part of the program.

Senior Constable Julius Uru is from the Mt Druitt Youth Command:

JULIUS URU: The majority of kids that we target are the ones who have been in trouble with the police, having issues at school. You can call them "youth at risk".

MIRIAM HALL: For Senior Constable Uru it wasn't just about work.

JULIUS URU: I took it very personal, and it was quite emotional for me at the end, because the graduation was just seeing the kids changed a life. We can't stop them from committing offences, but if I can see them change their behaviour, I think good things will follow after that.

MIRIAM HALL: The program was so successful that they plan it to re-run next year.

ELEANOR HALL: That's Miriam Hall reporting from Mt Druitt in Sydney's west on the Life Alternatives Program being run by the Police Youth Command.